Berkeley Lab is committed to maintaining a safe and healthful workplace. Part of that commitment involves anticipating, recognizing, evaluating and controlling occupational exposures to materials or agents having recognized or suspected health impacts.
The Environment Health and Safety Division provides technical assistance to the Lab community in evaluating potential exposures to non-radiological and radiological agents and materials.
The EHS Health & Safety Department supports evaluations of non-radiological materials or agents having recognized or suspected health impacts.
Likewise, the Radiation Protection Group provides radiation safety-related technical assistance for radiological material and radiation generating devices (e.g., X-ray machines) to the Lab community.
The exposure assessment process employs qualitative and/or quantitative methods to characterize exposures. When applicable, exposures are compared to recognized occupational exposure limits. Regulatory limits for Berkeley Lab are established by reference in our contract with the Department of Energy (DOE). These include but are not limited to Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) established by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), and DOE’s basic standards for occupational radiation protection as described in Title 10, Part 835, Occupational Radiation Protection.
Exposure assessments may be requested by workers (employees and affiliates), supervisors, activity leads, and other line managers. To request information on non-radiological exposure assessment, contact the EHS Health & Safety Representative for your division, the appropriate Subject Matter Expert (SME), or the Exposure Assessment Program Manager. For information regarding radiological exposure assessment, contact the Radiation Protection Group.